into statements on foreign affairs a few well-chosen
sentences emphasising His Majesty's Government's
112
sympathy with the rehabilitation of China and our desire
to maintain and develop our trade there it would greatly
encourage our traders and help to maintain our influence
with the Chinese Government.
But, of course,
in the end our continued
interest in China can be proved only by the adoption of
an active policy on the part of His Majesty's Government 9
e.g. in pursuing diplomatic representations to the
Japanese Government and in working out appropriate
financial assistance to China.
(2) Policy towards Japan.
It is very difficult to formulate any very
definite recommendations in regard to Japan. The
Japanese military undoubtedly aim at the domination of
China, or at least of North China, through a subservient
Chinese administration and they will do all they can to
weaken the Nanking Government so long as it opposes this
policy. There are many shades of difference in Japan as
regards the extent to which, and the pace at which,
this policy should be pursued, but in the absence of
joint military pressure by the Great Powers, or inter-
vention by the U.S.S.R. alone, no Government in Japan
is likely to renounce it entirely and the main check on its pursuit will probably be the degree of resistance
met with from the Chinese. On the other hand, we could
use our influence with the Japanese Government to urge upon
At the them a more reasonable policy towards China. present time, both the Japanese Government and the Japanese military authorities are definitely anxious to maintain
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